Adolescence: Cognitive Development

Logic and Self

• Egocentrism to abstract logic between ages 11 and 18

  • Brain maturation

  • Intense conversations

  • Schooling

  • Moral challenges

  • Increased independence

• Fables

  • Personal Fable

    • Aspect of adolescent egocentrism characterized by an adolescent’s belief that his or her thoughts, feelings, or experiences are unique, more wonderful or awful than anyone else’s

  • Invincibility Fable

    • Adolescents’ egocentric conviction that they cannot be overcome or even harmed by anything that might defeat a normal mortal

      • Included unsafe sex, drug abuse, and high-speed driving

• Imaginary audience

  • Other people who, in an adolescent’s egocentric belief, are watching and taking note of their appearance, ideas, and behavior

    • Makes teens self-conscious

• Egocentrism reassessed

  • Previous research suggests egocentrism foster adolescent risk-taking

High School

• High-stakes test

  • Involves evaluation that is critical in determining success or failure

  • Determines if a student will graduate or be promoted

  • 70% of high school graduates enter college

  • Students should know college isn’t the only option, but it’s important to have some sort of training

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